KAGAWONG—For participants and visitors of the 4Elements Living Arts Elemental Festival held this past weekend in Kagawong, everything lived up to its billing; “to expect the unusual, the beautiful, the inspiring and the engaging-leave with more questions than when you arrived.” The second annual event brought together a tremendous group of professional artists, writers, performers (local and visiting) and neat workshops for kids and adults.
“I loved it,” stated poet Madhur Anand, and professor of environmental sciences at the University of Guelph, who put on a Poetry from Science writing workshop on Saturday. “I have been to other similar festivals throughout Canada. This festival and being that it is in Kagawong, provides a unique and culturally and ecologically setting.”
“What 4Elements is doing is really unique, they have brought in really high quality artists, writers and musicians and performers for this gathering,” said Ms. Anand.
The festival began last Thursday evening with a Where to From Here? writing workshop with visiting artist/writer Chris Turnbull.
“We had a good turnout yesterday (Friday) for the opening ceremonies,” said Patricia Mader, cultural and recreational programs assistant for 4Elements told the Recorder. “We had between 30-40 people on hand from Sudbury, Nova Scotia, and even have one artist from Newfoundland on hand as well as locals.”
She pointed out the opening included speeches from Sophie Edwards, executive director of 4Elements, and Michael Mantha, MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin. The opening also includes the announcement of a writing prize, a poetry reading, ‘A New Index for predicting Catastrophes,’ with Ms. Anand, and the opening of the Fieldbook project exhibition, followed by a Night Owl Walk with Katie Fenerty.
Earlier in the day (Friday) an autumn medicinal plant walk was hosted by Joe Pitawanakwat, and a natural colours from the landscape dyeing with plant pigment workshop was put on. This was followed by an immersive performance, entitled ‘There is No Word for Wilderness,’ put on by Lisa Hamalainen and guests.
“We also introduced the festival theme, which is walking,” said Ms. Mader. “Walking gets you to slow down and observe what is around you.”
Several art installations had been set up along the Bridale Veil trail.
“We had a total of three artists on hand for last year’s festival and this year we have about 20 artists, writers and performers,” noted Ms. Mader.
Saturday’s events included a community art activity with participants having all ages fun with chalk paint in the Park Centre parking lot.
Marlene Creates of Newfoundland, presented an artist talk in the afternoon, while the afternoon saw a panel and community discussion on walking in creative practice and research held.
A very interesting artist “walk n’ talks” along the Bridal Veil trail included a good crowd of visitors in a question and answer session with artists Judy Martin, Matt Ceolin, the Woodland Sisters, Nate Nettleton and Chris Turnbull on their remarkable-creative works set up and displayed on the trail.
An incredible sound show immersive musical experimental performance, which started at the Bridal Veil Falls and continued right down the trail, had all visitors spellbound.
The Saturday events concluded with a tremendous concert put on by Jamie Ward and Friends, including members of the Kagawong Folk Roots Collective and piano extraordinaire Craig Hartley. The Park Centre upstairs area was packed full with a large crowd on hand.
Mr. Ward’s dad, David, opened up the show, while Mr. Ward and his friends had the crowd signing and clapping along to many of his songs, from his own albums, and covers from the Beatles and many other performers focusing on the 1960s era. He was also joined on stage by his wife Jean for one song.
And the band, which received a standing ovation from the crowd at the end of the night, had to play an encore song.
The activities continued Sunday with a memory mapping workshop by Marlene Creates, a walking mandala workshop hosted by Heather Thoma, an artist walk n’ talk, the film screening water journey and talk with community walker Deb Tate. The weekend concluded with a performance by Elisha Sildar titled Wuma Muma’s Walking Tour of Walking.
